Folding arm davenport



NOV. 2, 1948. A. L. EWING 2,452,642

FOLDING ARM DAVENPORT Filed April 2, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

\ 4155271. [/w/vs AT I ORNEYS Fatented Nov. 2, i948 Claims;

This invention relates to davenports and, more particularly, to davenports which are designed to facilitate their conversion into lounges.

Most davenports or sofas are constructed with two upholstered arms and several cushions stretching longitudinally between the arms. In newer furniture, sofas or davenports'are made in sizes too small to accommodate a person stretched at full length between the arms and such a reclining person is usually less than comfortable because of the acute angle at which his head or feet must be elevated from the cushions. It is quite usual to provide a pillow with which to fill in the space between the arm and the cushion so as to support the neck and shoulders of a person reclining on the davenport. But this is not a satisfactory solution to the problem because the persons head still must project somewhat uncomfortably onto the arm itself.

It is an object of this invention to provide a davenport having arms which are hinged so that they can be swung outwardly thereby extending the effective length of the davenport and providing a support for a pillow or for the head of a person reclining on the davenport which is not raised abruptly above the level of the davenport cushions themselves.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an inclined support designed to carry a pillow at such an angle and in such a position as to provide a comfortable head rest for a person reclining at length on a davenport equipped with a folding arm embodying the invention.

Morespecific objects and advantages are apparent from the drawings, in which:

Figure I is a front perspective view of a davenport embodying the invention and showing one arm ofithedavenport in its extended position supporting a pillow.

Figure II is a front perspective-view of the internal structure of a davenport embodying the invention with the upholstering' removed to show working parts constitutingone embodiment of the invention.

Figure I shows a conventional style davenport 5 provided with a three cushion seat and a corresponding overstuffed back 2. At each end of the davenport there is located an overstuffed arm 3 which is designed in accordance with the invention. As can be more clearly seen in Figure II each of the arms is constructed around a frame consisting of a front upright d, a rear upright E5 and stringers 6, l and 8. To the structure thus erected is secured a back frame 8 which forms one end of the structure supporting the cushioned back 2 of the davenport. I

The upper portion of the arm comp-rises a top It, end plates H and l2, side plate 53, outside stringer I4 and a rear extension l5. The longitudinal edge of the top it which is on the outside of the arm in its upright position is curved to match the curvature of a curved stringer it which is secured on the outermost side of the mainframe stringer 8 at the lower outside of the arm. Upholstering material is secured to these curved members so as to give the end of the davenport a pleasing rounded appearance. The outside stringer l4- and the stringer 8 are hinged together along their outer matching edges by two or more hinges E7;

The rear extension E5 of the arm is offset slightly from the side plate 53 so that when the arm is swung into its upright position the back frame 9 will fit into the recess.

The outward and downward movement of the upper portion of the arm is limited by a pair of formed support plates l8 and it. The two plates 58 and i9 areshaped to present smooth curved outer and inner edges. The plate i8 is pivotally attached to the hinged portion of the arm at the ends of its outermost edge (when the arm is swung down) between the front end plate H and rear end plate 32. The plate iii is similarly attached between the upper inside corner of the front upright Li and the lower front edge of the back frame 9. ihe two plates l8 and it are linked together by a pair of straps 29 one of which is pivotally secured at each end of the plates 18 and it.

When the arm of the davenport is swung out and over the two plates l8 and H are opened (similar to the opening of a book) and their joined edges are lifted upwardly to form a substantially flat inclined support for a pillow 2i shown in place in Figure I. When the arm is restored to its normal position the two plates 58 and IQ are swung together and their linked edges drop downwardly into the recess provided within the interior of the lower portion of the arm.

A manually operable latch 22 may be provided to lock the arm in its closed position and should be accessible from some rather hidden position as, for example, the back end of the arm itself. The latch may be merely a push button catch in which case the push button is hidden beneath the covering fabric.

The embodiment of the invention which has been disclosed may be modified to meet various requirements.

Having described the invention, i claim:

1. In a davenport having a substantially horizontal seat portion, a folding arm comprising, in combination, a hollow stationary arm frame erected adjacent the end of said seat portion and having its upper open end approximately on the plane of the seat portion, a hollow folding arm frame having an open bottom and hinged to the upper end of said stationary frame along their outer horizontal joining edges, and a pair of support plates adapted to be concealed within said arm frames, each of said plates being pivotally c0nnected to one of said arm frames between the ends thereof and adjacent the inner horizontal joining edges of said frames, said plates being pivotally linked to each other along their other edges parallel to the inner and outer edges of said arm frames, said support plates serving to limit outward swinging movement of said folding arm frame and to support a pillow at an incline to the end of said seat portion, when said arm is unfolded.

2. In a davenport having a substantially horizontal seat portion, a folding arm comprising, in combination, a hollow stationary arm frame erected adjacent the end of said seat portion and having its upper open end approximately on the plane of the seat portion, a hollow folding arm frame having an open bottom and hinged to the upper end of said stationary frame along their outer horizontal joining edges, a pair of support plates adapted to be concealed within said arm frames, each of said plates being pivotally connected to one of said arm frames between the end thereof and adjacent the inner horizontal joining edges of said frames, said plates being pivotally linked to each other along their other edges parallel to the inner and outer edges of said arm frames, the lateral dimensions of said plates being less than that of the interior dimensions of said hollow frames, said support plates serving to limit outward swinging movement of said folding arm frame and to support a pillow at an incline to the end of said seat portion when said arm is unfolded.

3. In a davenport having a substantially horizontal seat portion, a folding arm comprising, in combination, a hollow stationary arm frame erected adjacent the end of said seat portion and having its upper open end approximately on the plane of the seat portion, a hollow folding arm frame having an open bottom and hinged to the upper end of said stationary frame along their outer horizontal joining edges, a pair of support plates adapted to be concealed within said arm frames, each of said plates being pivotally connected to one of said arm frames between the ends thereof and adjacent the inner horizontal joining edges of said frames, said plates being pivotally linked to each other along their other edges parallel to the inner and outer edges of said arm frames, and a manually operable latch co-acting between said stationary frame and said folding frame to hold said arm in its closed position, said support plates serving to limit outward swinging movement of said folding arm frame and to support a pillow at an incline to the end of said seat portion when said arm is in its open position.

4. A folding arm for a davenport comprising, in

combination, a lower frame having an opening at the top and erected at the end of the davenport,

an upper frame having an opening at the bottom and which is hinged to said lower frame along a horizontal outside matching edge, whereby the openings at the top and bottom of said frames, respectively, are in line when said frames are closed, and said upper frame can be swung out and over relative to said lower frame, anda pair of support plates located in the openings of said frames, one of said plates being pivotally connected at the inner edge of said lower frame, near the top thereof, the other one of said plates being pivotally connected at the matching edge of said upper frame, near the bottom thereof, the outer edges of said plates being pivotally linked together, whereby upon the swinging of said upperframe, said plates are raised opened and straightened relative to each other to limit the movement of said upper frame and to support a pillow adjacent and at an incline to, the seat portion of said davenport.

5, A folding arm for a davenport comprising, in combination, a lower frame having an opening at the top and erected at the end of the davenport, an upper frame having an opening at the bottom and which is hinged to said lower frame along a horizontal outside matching edge, whereby the openings at the top and bottom of said frames, respectively, are in line when said frames are closed, and said upper frame can be swung out and over relative to said lower frame, a. pair of support plates located in the openings of said frames, one of said plates being pivotally connected at the inner edge of said lower frame, near the top thereof, the other one of said plates being pivotally connected at the matching edge of said upper frame, near the bottom thereof, the outer edges of said'plates being pivotally linked together, whereby upon the swinging of said upper frame, said plates are raised opened and straightened relative to each other to limit the movement of said upper frame and to support a pillow adjacent and at an incline to, the seat portion of said davenport and a manually releasable latch for holding said frames in closed relationship.

ALBERT L. EWING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,233,419 Stoneback July 17, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,233 Denmark Dec. 15, 1913 

